The Secret (Butler Ranch Book 3)
Page 12
What the hell? Why was Bradley with the boyfriend? He thought about following them, but why? To deepen the hole he felt forming in his gut?
No wonder she’d been so adamant about going home, saying she needed time with her family.
Had Calder called it correctly? As soon as his back was turned, did Bradley report everything she’d learned this afternoon to a man she told him earlier she believed might be behind the fire in their vineyards?
It didn’t make sense. When Maddox hired Bradley, Naughton believed her loyalty would always be with Jenson Vineyards, but maybe he’d gotten it wrong. Maybe her loyalties were with the boyfriend and Mumm Napa. He hated the thoughts churning in his head, echoing the words Calder spoke earlier in the day.
He had to believe there was an explanation. He couldn’t accept the woman he felt such a strong connection to, from the moment he had met her—even when he still believed she was some guy named Bradley’s girlfriend—could betray him and his family.
The same with his father. Between the two, Naughton felt as though he was losing it. Ever since they got word Kade had been killed, there had been a never-ending stream of strange shit swirling around him and his family.
Earlier, Maddox said he should’ve stepped in when Calder was taunting him because that’s what Kade would’ve done. Is that what Kade had always done? Had he always stepped in to make sure this kind of shit never touched his family?
This was probably the stupidest thing she’d ever done, but when Trey called and said he was sorry and begged her to let him explain, she agreed to listen. But only because she had her own reason for wanting to see him, and it wasn’t to forgive him. If he had anything to do with the fire at Butler Ranch, she had a better chance than anyone of picking up on something he might let slip that would tie him to it.
He said he’d pick her up, and when she offered to meet him instead, he was insistent.
“Where are we going?” she asked when he came to the door.
“Somewhere to talk. I was thinking La Cosecha.”
“That’ll work. I’m starving,”
Trey closed the front door behind them, and she saw the top was up on his Alfa Romeo. “What’s this? I thought there was no point in having a convertible if you drive with the top up.”
“I know you don’t like it, so I put it up when I got here.”
She didn’t believe him. There must be another reason, but she didn’t care, unless it had something to do with the fire.
They were almost to Butler Ranch when she saw the motorcycle make a left into their gate. There was no doubt in her mind that it was Naughton.
Instead of sliding down in the seat like she wanted to, she turned her body toward Trey. “Thanks for calling today,” she began, hoping that Naughton was through the gate and didn’t see them drive by.
“I couldn’t leave things between us this way.”
“I was sure you’d gone back to Napa.”
“No.”
Interesting that he didn’t say a word about being questioned about the fire. Maybe they weren’t letting him leave.
“Are you still staying at the inn?”
“Nah. I moved to a place downtown.”
A place? Why didn’t Trey want her to know where he was staying?
Trey pulled up in front of the restaurant and parked in an area clearly marked as a loading zone. She didn’t say anything, because it was the kind of thing he did all the time.
“No one’s gonna tow this baby,” he’d say about the car he treated like an offspring. She wished, just once, someone would and teach him a lesson.
“I didn’t mean the things I said, Brad,” Trey began while they waited for the hostess to seat them. “I’d rather sit in the bar, if that’s okay with you.”
Bradley nodded, not caring where they sat. She wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible and be on her way back to her aunt and uncle’s.
The feeling of him resting his hand on the small of her back as they walked into the bar, made her skin crawl. It was so different from the way she had felt earlier, when Naughton’s hand reassured her.
“You have no idea the kind of pressure we’re under,” he said once they were seated. “Everyone in Napa is panicking, grasping at any straw they can. You wouldn’t believe the kind of stuff going on up there.”
“Or down here,” she commented, which made him pause.
“I acted like a jackass and I’m sorry. It’s just that…”
“What?”
“You have to understand, there are people who believe Naughton Butler can help us. That he’s refused, doesn’t sit well.”
“You said the wine conglomerates will stop at nothing. Does that include setting vineyards on fire?”
“No, no. That isn’t what I meant. Money, they’re willing to throw whatever money he wants at him, but he won’t even discuss it.”
“He doesn’t think he can help.”
Trey picked up his water glass and took a drink.
“We think he can.” Trey waved the bartender over.
“What can I get ya?” he asked.
“Couple of drinks. Brad, what would you like?”
She didn’t want anything but to get away from Trey. How had she ever thought she might want to spend her life with him? Once she saw how Maddox was with Alex, and Brodie with Peyton, she realized how different her relationship with Trey was. Not just different, it was so apparent they didn’t belong together. Once again, she thought about the time she’d spent with Naughton. They’d known each other a handful of days, yet she believed he cared more about her than Trey ever had.
“Brad?”
“What Cabs do you pour by the glass?”
He rattled off a couple, and when he mentioned Tablas Creek, she ordered a glass.
Trey didn’t show any sign of picking up on it. “Same.”
When the bartender left, Trey continued. “All we’re asking is for him to come up and hear us out.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“I can’t accept that.”
“You may not have a choice.”
“That’s why I need your help, Brad. I know I was a shit before, and I’m sorry.”
Continuing to call her by a nickname she detested wasn’t the smartest thing he could do when he was asking her to help him.
“I told you before, I don’t have any influence over Naughton.”
“He respects you,” Trey said, taking a tack she didn’t expect.
“He hardly knows me.”
“Would you at least try? Do it for me.”
It was all she could do not to roll her eyes. “I can try, but I’m not promising anything.”
“I can’t tell you how much I’d appreciate it.”
The bartender delivered their wine and asked if they were ready to order.
“Give us a minute,” Trey told him.
While they perused the menus, Bradley stole glances at Trey. He was grayer than she’d noticed before, and the lines on his face were more pronounced. He had dark circles under his eyes, but then she probably did too. Hers were from lack of sleep. Were his from stress?
When he looked up, she looked back at the menu, hoping he hadn’t caught her staring. He was facing the door, and she felt a renewed tension seep off him, confirmed by the white-knuckle grip he had on his wine glass.
“What looks good?” she asked, pretending not to notice his change in demeanor.
“What?”
“What are you having?”
“Hmm. Not sure.”
When he looked back at the menu, Bradley turned slightly and saw the man being seated in the booth right behind her. She doubted he’d have any reason to recognize her, but she knew who he was.
What was the connection between Trey and Rory Calder—and why did the two of them want her to believe they didn’t know each other?
Naughton waited fifteen minutes for Maddox to answer his text before he knocked on his brother’s door. When Alex answered, lookin
g like he woke her, Naughton wasn’t sure what to say. Alex was like a sister to him, but it had to be Mad’s decision to confide in her once Naughton told him what Hawks had reported about their father.
“Sorry, Alex, but it’s urgent I talk to Mad.”
“It’s okay.” When she stepped aside and waved him in, Naughton saw Maddox coming down the stairs, tugging a shirt over his head.
“I just saw your text.” Maddox leaned forward and kissed Alex’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon, sweetheart.”
“Is she okay?” he asked his brother once they were outside.
“Yeah. She reads us pretty well. What’s up, little brother? Your text said it was urgent.”
“Let’s walk.” Maddox followed Naughton past the vineyards, toward the wine caves.
“It’s about Da,” he began.
“Yeah?”
“I think Alex may have been right about him having an affair. Hawks saw him at Demetria.”
“With someone?”
“Yep.”
“Shit.”
“He said Da pulled in the front gate, and a few minutes later, a woman walked up and got in his truck. His old truck, by the way.”
“Where’d she come from?”
“Hawks said she came out of the woods, on the path that leads to the meadow where we’re keeping the horses.”
“What did Hawks do?” Maddox asked.
“Nothing, until they left. Once he was sure they were gone, he walked back the way she came but didn’t see a car anywhere.”
“Does Da know someone saw him?”
“I doubt it. Hawks has been keeping his truck pulled around on the other side of the house, instead of where we usually park near the creek.”
“Why?”
Naughton shrugged. “You know how Hawks is, doesn’t like anyone to know his business.”
“That’s right. Didn’t he have some trouble with an ex a while back?”
Naughton shrugged. “What about Da, Maddox?”
“Did Hawks give you a description of the woman Da was talking to?”
“Young and pretty were about it.”
“Lena young?”
“That was my first thought too, but when I described her, he shook his head.”
Maddox walked farther, past the entrance to the caves, and Naughton followed. It was only when he noticed his brother grip the back of his neck, that he released his hold on his own.
“What are you thinking?” Naughton asked.
“I don’t think Da is having an affair.”
“I don’t either, but lacking another explanation…”
“My gut is telling me this has something to do with Lena.”
“The other secret?”
“Another one anyway. Hard telling if there are more.”
“Da is in on this one.”
“It’s lookin’ that way, Naught.”
“What do we do?”
Maddox gripped Naughton’s shoulder. “We wait.”
Bradley excused herself to the restroom just to get away from Trey for a few minutes. This had been a terrible idea. She hadn’t gotten a thing out of him. He was the one asking all the questions. When he wasn’t pestering her about Naughton, he was asking endless questions about other wineries in the area, including Jenson Vineyards. Maybe if she told him she didn’t feel well, she could get him to take her home.
She was on her way back to the table when her phone vibrated. Maybe it was her aunt checking in. When she pulled it out of her purse, she saw Trey’s name on the caller ID. She hit the accept call button and was about to say something when she heard Trey’s voice.
“I don’t know,” she heard him say. “The land is worth it, always has been, particularly if we can add more along Adelaida Trail.”
“Has she forgiven you?” she heard another voice ask. Even through the phone, she picked up the dripping sarcasm.
“I gotta tell you, Ror, the last four years have been a real struggle.”
“Keep your eye on the prize, brother. And she ain’t it.”
“I hear ya.”
“The stuff will go down at Jenson soon. Next week we’ll go to plan B for Los Cab and Butler Ranch.”
“You sure about this?”
“Why not? Are you backing out on me, Trey?”
“Hell, no, Ror. I’m just saying there’s a lot of heat on us right now.”
“Heat but no proof. Listen, if you’re not in this one hundred percent, your father’s gonna hear about it.”
When Trey’s phone rustled, Bradley disconnected the call. She’d heard more than enough to know she had to figure out how to get the hell out of this restaurant, and home, so she could warn her aunt and uncle, along with the Butler and Avila families.
She ducked back into the ladies’ room, feeling as though her heart was beating out of her chest. When the door opened, every nerve ending on Bradley’s body tingled in fear.
“Diane, thank God,” she whispered.
“Bradley? What’s going on? You don’t look good. Are you okay?”
“Shh.” She held a finger up to her mouth. “I have to get out of here before the guy I’m with finds me.”
Diane rested her hand on Bradley’s arm. “Trey? What happened?”
“I can’t explain right now. Is there a back way out?”
“There is. Where’s your car?”
“I didn’t drive. Trey did. Shit,” she said, thinking out loud.
“Can you call someone to come get you? Maybe get a cab?”
“Yeah, but I don’t have a lot of time. Any second he’s going to wonder what’s taking me so long. In fact, he’s probably outside the door right now.”
Diane poked her head out. “Nope. Come with me.”
Bradley followed Diane out the ladies’ room door and in the door to the men’s room. “Where are you—”
“Shh,” Diane whispered. “There’s a window.”
The men’s room was empty, and the window was already open, so when Diane gave her a leg up, Bradley crawled through it.
“Thanks,” she said when she landed outside, in the parking lot.
Diane looked behind her. “I gotta go.”
When she moved away from the window, Bradley had no idea what she should do. She had no car, and Trey would likely come looking for her any minute. She slunk her way through the parking lot that ran the length of the block of businesses. When she got to the corner, she ran across the street and slipped inside another restaurant.
“Table for one?” asked the hostess.
“Um, yeah. Thanks. Is there a restroom I can use first?”
“Of course, it’s just down that hall.”
Once inside, Bradley took a deep breath. It had to have been at least fifteen minutes since she had left the table at La Cosecha. Trey must be looking for her by now.
More than anything she wanted to call Naughton, but she couldn’t. She had to get in touch with her uncle first. What had Trey said? Even he wouldn’t be able to step in and save Jenson if she refused to help him. Evidently, her time was up, and whatever he and Calder had planned would be happening soon.
Bradley called her uncle’s cell, but didn’t reach him. She tried the house phone next, and when no one answered that, she tried her aunt’s cell. It wasn’t late enough that they’d be asleep. She waited a couple of minutes, and then tried again, still without any luck. Soon the woman who greeted her at the entrance would be wondering where she’d gone, and if by some slim chance, Trey came here, looking for her, she didn’t want the hostess to tell him she’d disappeared into the ladies’ room.
Dreading the conversation she’d have to have, she placed one more call.
“Yeah?”
“Naughton? It’s Bradley. I need your help.”
14
There was a bottle of bourbon in his kitchen calling his name, but after last night, he decided to skip the booze and get some sleep. He was halfway up the stairs when his cell phone rang.
“Yeah?”
Five minutes after Bradley had explained where she was and why, he was on his way to downtown Paso Robles, working to cool his anger so maybe, by the time he got there, he wouldn’t wring her neck.
It took him fifteen minutes to make the drive. When he pulled up, he texted Bradley, who’d told him she’d wait in the ladies’ room until he got there.
When she came out the front door of the restaurant, she had the same deer in the headlights look that he’d seen before, and that, coupled with the fact that he could see the relief flood her face the minute she saw him, kept him from railing at her.
He opened the passenger door of his truck, which sat idling. “Get in,” he told her when she hesitated, looking left and right.
“Naughton, I—”
He closed the door behind her before she finished her sentence. His patience was paper-thin, and the hold he had on his temper was quickly slipping away.
“Thank you for coming to get me,” she said when he climbed in the driver’s side and put the truck in gear.
He pulled onto the highway without answering, tightening his already white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, what for?”
It took her a while to answer, but that was okay with him. He was having a hard time putting words together anyway.
“That you had to,” she finally said.
“What? Come get you?”
He saw her nod.
“You’re very angry—”
“Yeah? Got any idea why? And I’ll tell ya, it isn’t because I had to come get you.”
“Why?”
“Maybe because of your harebrained idea. You takin’ over for the sheriff now? What made you think—”
“Stop. I know it was stupid, but when Trey called and told me he was sorry, I just thought…I thought…”
“Spit it out. What did you think, Bradley?”
“Stop yelling at me. I thought I could help, okay? I know it was stupid, but I thought I could help.”